Dental cream composition

ABSTRACT

Dental cream having a smooth texture with little tendency to form grain containing calcium carbonate polishing agent and sodium lauryl sulphate surface active agent having a broad distribution of alkyl groups containing 10-18 carbon atoms and as additive which reduces grain an alkali metal pyrophosphate or an anionic phosphate mono- and di-ester mixture.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.32,077, filed Apr. 23, 1979, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a dental cream composition having a desirablerheological character. In particular it relates to a dental creamcomposition of smooth texture with little tendency to form grain,particularly upon aging at low temperatures.

Calcium carbonate or chalk has long been used as a dental polishingagent. In earlier times, in spite of its effectiveness in polishingteeth, it had disadvantages in that it tended to make dental creamsomewhat slimy in feel. More recently, however, grades of calciumcarbonate have come into use which substantially avoid this problem.

Nevertheless, it has been observed that in dental creams containingcalcium carbonate, including modern grades of the material, when thecream further contains sodium lauryl sulphate as a surface active agent,which sodium lauryl sulphate has a broad distribution of alkyl chainlengths, such as about 1-8% C₁₀ ; 40-70% C₁₂ ; 13-30% C₁₄ ; 5-16% C₁₆ ;and 0-23% C₁₈ ; grain formation does occur after storage at lowtemperatures, e.g., between -7° to 7° C. This phenomenon does notgenerally occur when sodium lauryl sulphate having high C₁₂ content(e.g., 95% or more) is employed. However, since sodium lauryl sulphateof broader alkyl distribution is readily and economically commerciallyavailable and is generally compatible with many common dental creamcomponents, it is desirable to use it.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dental cream compositioncomprising calcium carbonate and sodium lauryl sulphate having a broaddistribution of alkyl chain lengths which composition had desirablerheological characteristics and is substantially grain free.

According to the present invention a dental cream is provided consistingessentially of a vehicle of water and humectant and a gelling agent,from 20 to 75% by weight of a polishing material wherein at least about95% by weight of said polishing material is calcium carbonate, from 0.1to 5% by weight of a surface active material including sodium laurylsulphate having a broad distribution of alkyl groups, the C₁₀ contentbeing about 1 to 8% by weight, the C₁₂ content being about 40 to 70% byweight, the C₁₄ content being about 13 to 30% by weight, the C₁₆ contentbeing about 5 to 16% by weight and the C₁₈ content being about 0 to 23%by weight, and from 0.2 to 1% by weight of an additive selected from thegroup consisting of an M₄ pyrophosphate wherein M is alkali metal orammonium and an anionic phosphate ester comprising a mixture ofmono-ester of the formula ##STR1## di-ester of the formula ##STR2##wherein M' is hydrogen, alkali metal or ammonium, R is an alkyl group of10-20 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 1 to 6.

Calcium carbonate is available in various grades, particularly asprecipitated chalk. For example, grades may have an apparent density ofabout 0.47-0.61 gms/cc; a flow point of about 19 to 25; a moisture lossat 105° C. of about 1 to 2%; a particle size such that at least 99.7% ofthe particles are finer than 74 microns (pass through U.S. 200 sieve),the median size is about 4 to 9 microns and not more than 90% are lessthan 18 microns; and the material is composed of calcite and aragonitein a ratio of from about 1:9 to 3:1, typically about 1:10, 1:1 or 3:1.Suitable grades are available from John and E. Sturge Ltd., Birmingham,England for instance as Sturcal H and from Johann Schaefer Kalkwerke,Diez, West Germany as Schaefer AC.

The dental cream contains about 20-75%, preferably about 40 to 55%, ofpolishing agent of which at least about 95% is calcium carbonate. Inaddition to calcium carbonate the polishing material may optionallycontain up to about 5% of its content of an additional polishing agentsuch as dicalcium phosphate (anhydrous or dihydrate), tricalciumphosphate, dimagnesium phosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, insoublesodium metaphosphate, hydrated alumina or silica.

Sodium lauryl sulphate has long been used in dental cream compositionsbut it has generally been used as a "narrow cut" material in which atleast 90%, even 99%, of the alkyl groups are C₁₂. Dental creamscontaining calcium carbonate and "narrow cut" sodium lauryl sulphateoften do not become grainy, even upon aging at low temperatures.Commercially available grades of "narrow cut" sodium lauryl sulphateinclude Empicol 0045 available from Marchon Division of Albright &Wilson, Texapon K1296 available from Henkel and Cie. and Alfol 12available from Conoco.

When sodium lauryl sulphate of broader alkyl distribution is employed,the problem of grain upon aging at low temperatures can be recognized. Aparticular sodium lauryl sulphate employed for the present inventioncontains about 3% C₁₀ ; 56% C₁₂ ; 21% C₁₄ ; 9% C₁₆ and 11% C₁₈ alkylgroups and is commercially available in the form of needles as Empicol"LZV" from Marchon Division of Albright and Wilson, Whitehaven, England.Further broad cut grades of sodium lauryl sulphate which may be employedare Tensopol SP ACL 7 from Tensia S.A., Leige, Belgium and Texapon ZH.Cfrom Henkel and Cie., Dusseldorf, West Germany. Such grades of sodiumlauryl sulphate include in their alkyl distribution about 40 to 70% C₁₂.More particularly, they typically have an alkyl distribution of about 1to 8% C₁₀ ; 40 to 70% C₁₂, 13 to 30C₁₄, 5 to 16% C₁₆, and 0 to 23% C₁₈.The alkyl groups are substantially straight chain (normal).

The sodium lauryl sulphate may be prepared by means known in the art togive a product with broad alkyl distribution. "Narrow cut" sodium laurylsulphate may be prepared from the broader cut material by fractionaldistillation and recrystallisation.

In addition to sodium lauryl sulphate of broad alkyl distribution, thedental cream optionally may include an additional surface active agent.Such agents may include anionic materials, for instance, water-solublesalts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride monosulphate (e.g. sodiumcoconut fatty acid monoglyceride monosulphate), alkyl aryl sulphonate(e.g. sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate), higher fatty acid esters of1,2-dihydroxy propane sulphate (e.g. sodium coconut fatty acid ester of1,2-dihydroxy propane sulphonate) or anionic phosphate ester of the typeindicated above which is also effective as an additive to reduce grainformation.

A nonionic or ampholytic surface active agent may also be present, suchagents including nonionic agents such as sorbitan monostearate withapproximately 60 moles of ethylene oxide, condensates of ethylene oxidewith propylene glycol (available under the trademark "Pluronics") andamphoteric agents such as quaternized imidazole derivatives which areavailable under the trademark "Miranol" such as Miranol C2M. It ispreferred that the total amount of surface active agent does not exceedabout 5% by weight of the oral composition. The total surface activematerial content of the dental cream is about 0.1 to 5% by weight.Preferably about 1 to 2% by weight of sodium lauryl sulphate of broadalkyl distribution is present.

The additive which reduces the grain formation upon aging at lowtemperature, such as about -7° to 7° C., is a phosphate material,particularly a pyrophosphate or the anionic phosphate ester mixture ofmono-ester and di-ester as defined above. When the anionic phosphateester is employed, it may also serve as part of the surface activematerial.

The M₄ pyrophosphate is an alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium, etc.)or ammonium salt. It may be tetrasodium pyrophosphate in its anhydrousor hydrated forms. Na₄ P₂ O₇.10 H₂ O is a preferred material. Thecorresponding tripolyphosphate is not believed to be effective in grainreduction.

The anionic phosphate esters are mixtures of mono-and di-esters of theformulas hereinabove set forth. They are available for MoDo KemiAktiebolaget, formerly Berol Aktiebolaget, of Sweden under the nameBerol and may include an anionic triester moiety to, as well as somenonionic portion. Berol 729 has alkyl chain lengths of 16 to 18 carbonatoms and contains series of 4 ethylene oxide units. Since the acid formof Berol 729 typically provides a completed oral preparation with a pHbelow 6, this material is generally used in neutralized or partiallyneutralized form in order to assure a pH above about 6 to the completedoral preparation.

Further anionic phosphate ester which may be used in acid or neutralizedforms are Berol 525 which contains alkyl groups of 10 to 18 carbon atomsand series of 5 ethylene oxide units and Berol 513 which contains alkylgroups of 16 to 18 carbon atoms. However, use of Berol 525 may alsoprovide a completed oral preparation with a pH below 6 and it ispreferred to use it in neutralized or partially neutralized form.Further Berol anionic phosphate esters are available as Berol 521, Berol724 and Berol 733. The weight ratio of mono-ester to di-ester may vary,typically from about 1:10 to 10:1.

The grain reduction additive is employed in amount of from 0.2 to 1% byweight, preferably fro 0.2 to 0.5%. When a dentifrice containing calciumcarbonate and sodium lauryl sulphate having a broad alkyl groupdistribution, but not including the anti-grain additive is prepared,grain formation can be observed after aging for one month at a lowtemperature, such as about -7° to 7° C., typically 4° C.

In the prior art there have been disclosures of dental creams in whichthe polishing agent contained calcium carbonate and in which sodiumlauryl sulphate were present. Some of these dental creams contained apyrophosphate salt or an anionic phosphate ester. Nevertheless, thepresent invention differs substantially from such disclosures.

In Example 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,632 to Schiraldi ofColgate-Palmolive Company a dentifrice is discussed which contains 50%of calcium carbonate as the only polishing agent, 2.5% of sodium laurylsulphate, 0.25% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate and 0.3% of sodium copperchlorophyllin. In such dentrifice the low temperature grain problemcould only have been recognized if a broad-cut had been used and thepyrophosphate salt omitted. The pyrophosphate salt is used to permitrelease of the chlorophyll material. The dentral cream of the presentinvention consists essentially of vehicle of humectant and water,gelling agent, polishing agent, surface active agent and anti-grainadditive. Chlorophyll would not be present and, therefore, no reasonexists to include pyrophosphate in accordance with the patent toSchiraldi.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,041,473 to Janota of Victor Chemical Works apyrophosphate salt is taught as an additive to prevent formation of a"curd" upon moistening a dentifrice powder containing a polishing agentincluding calcium carbonate and a soap or frothing agent. Curd formationis a phenomenon of tooth powder containing a soap type of frothing agentand is not associated with dental cream containing surface active agentsuch as sodium lauryl sulphate. Accordingly, one skilled in the artwould not be led by the patent to Janota to introduce a pyrophosphateinto such a dental cream.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,636 to Tomlinson of Colgate-Palmolive Company, adentifrice is taught wherein the surface active system includes asurfactant of the formula R--(OCH₂ CH₂)_(x) --OCH₂ COOM wherein R is aC₈ -C₁₈ alkyl chain, x is an integer 1-9 and M is a non-toxic alkali oralkaline earth metal, ammonium or C₂ to C₃ alkylol amine. Sodium laurylsulphate may also be present as well as polishing agents includingcalcium carbonate and/or dicalcium phosphate. Tetrasodium pyrophosphateis employed in examples (3 and 5) in which the polishing agent is mainlydicalcium phosphate dihydrate and smaller amounts of calcium carbonate.It is well known in the art (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,876,167 and3,634,585 to Manahan and Manahan et al each of Colgate-PalmoliveCompany) that soluble pyrophosphates would be employed in suchdentrifices to supress calcium ion from calcium phosphates. One skilledin the art is not led by the presence of calcium carbonate indisclosures such as those of the patent to Tomlinson to use apyrophosphate as an additive because of the presence of calciumcarbonate.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,517 to Baines et al of Colgate-Palmolive Company,an anionic phosphate ester composition is taught to promotecompatibility of a toothpaste containing hydrated alumina polishingmaterial with an unlined aluminum container. Calcium carbonate may beincluded as minor component of the polishing material and sodium laurylsulphate may also be present. However, a composition in which thephosphate ester is suggested for a toothpaste in which the polishingmaterial consists essentially of calcium carbonate is not suggested bythis patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,813 to Januszewski et al of Colgate-PalmoliveCompany includes disclosure in which a pyrophosphate may be present in atoothpaste with a bis (biguandio hexane) compound and U.S. Pat. No.4,036,950 to Baines et al of Colgate-Palmolive Company discloses adentrifice containing a phosphate ester composition and a cationicantibacterial agent. It is well known, for instance, from British PatentNo. 825,577 to Clemow et al of International Chemical Company thatsodium lauryl sulphate would be avoided in dentifrices containing suchcationic materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,054,742 to Elbel of International Scientific ProductsCompany, its British patent equivalent No. 399,917 to Henkel & Cie. andU.S. Pat. Nos. 2,812,284 to Sanders of Procter & Gamble and 3,692,894 toAmo et al of Kao Soap Company disclose dental compositions in whichsodium lauryl sulphate having a distribution of alkyl chain lengths maybe used. These patents, however, do not even lead to recognition of thelow temperature grain problem, much less its solution, since one skilledin the art would not be lead to use such chain distributed sodium laurylsulphates in a dental cream with a polishing material which is primarilycalcium carbonate.

The dental cream includes as a vehicle for the polishing material, grainreduction additive and surface active material, liquids and solidsproportioned to form an extrudable creamy mass of desirable consistency.In general, liquids in the dental cream will comprise chiefly water,glycerine, sorbitol, propylene glycol, or the like, including suitablemixtures thereof. It is advantageous usually to use a mixture of bothwater and a binder or humectant such as glycerine and/or sorbitol. It ispreferred to use glycerine or mixtures of glycerine with sorbitol. Thehumectant is generally used in an amount between about 20 and 25%, andpreferably about 22%. The total liquid content will generally be about20 to 65% by weight of the formulation, with water being in an amount tobring the total of components to 100%.

A gelling agent is also used in dental creams such as the natural andsynthetic gum and gum-like materials, e.g., Irish moss, gum tragacanth,sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, starch and thelike; all being referred to as "gum". The Irish moss and sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose are compatible particularly and are preferredgelling agents. The gum content is usually in an amount up to about 10%and preferably about 0.5 to 5% by weight of the formulation, with gum inan amount of about 0.9 to 1.3% especially preferred.

The total of liquid and gelling agent (gum) form the dental creamvehicle in which the other components are dispersed or dissolved.

Minor amounts of ingredients such as sweetener, flavour and, should anunlined aluminum tube be employed, stabilizer therefor, such as sodiumsilicate, may be employed.

The following specific example is further illustrative of the nature ofthe present invention but it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. Oral compositions are prepared in the usual manner,except as indicated, and all amounts and proportions are by weightexcept as otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE

The following dentifrices were prepared and placed in unlined aluminumtubes:

    ______________________________________                                                        Parts                                                         Components        A        B        C                                         ______________________________________                                        Glycerine         6.060    6.060    6.060                                     Sodium carboxymethylcellulose                                                                   1.200    1.200    1.200                                     Sodium saccharin  0.200    0.200    0.200                                     Sodium silicate   0.200    0.200    0.200                                     Sorbitol (70%)    16.000   16.000   16.000                                    Tetrasodium pyrophosphate                                                     Berol 513*        --       0.500    --                                                          --       --       0.500                                     Deionized water   23.433   22.933   22.933                                    Calcium carbonate**                                                                             42.000   42.000   42.000                                    Sodium lauryl sulphate LZV***                                                                   1.807    1.807    1.807                                     Flavour           1.100    1.100    1.100                                     pH                8.65     9.44     8.20                                      ______________________________________                                         *Berol 513, employed in dentifrices C is a mixture of anionic phosphate       monoesters and diesters of the earlier indicated formulas in which the        alkyl group contains 16 to 18 carbon atoms. It is a pasty material with a     density of about 1.050/cm.sup.3 at 30° C. It is available from MoD     Kemi Aktiebolaget, of Sweden.                                                 **The calcium carbonate employed in dentifrices A, B and C is Sturcal H       chalk, available from John & E. Sturge Ltd, Birmingham, England.              ***The sodium lauryl sulphate employed in dentifrices A, B & C is LZV, a      broadcut needle material available from Marchon Division of Albright and      Wilson.                                                                  

After aging for three months at 4° C., dentifrice A has an appearancewhich can be noticed as somewhat rough and grainy. On the other hand,the presence of tetrasodium pyrophosphate in dentifrice B and of Berol513 in dentifrice C, reduces grain, such that after storage for threemonths at 4° C. dentifrice B is slightly rough only at the tube nozzle,but is otherwise satisfactory and indeed shiny; dentifrice C issatisfactory and shiny after storage for three months at 4° C.

Likewise, improvements are observed when tetrasodium pyrophosphate orthe organic phosphate ester is present in dentifrices containing calciumcarbonate available as Schaefer AC and broad-cut sodium lauryl sulphate,including LZV as well as needles of Tensapol SP ACL 7 available forTensia, S.A., Liege, Belgium and needles of Texapon ZHC, available fromHenkel and Cie., Dusseldorf, West Germany.

A grain problem also exists when the formula contains 40% calciumcarbonate, such as Sturcal H and 2% dicalcium phosphate as polishingmaterials and broad-cut sodium lauryl sulphate, such as LZV, whichproblem is reduced by the presence of tetrasodium pyrophosphate or theorganic phosphate ester.

I claim:
 1. A dental cream consisting essentially of a vehicle of waterand humectant and a gelling agent, from 20 to 75% by weight of apolishing material wherein at least about 95% by weight of saidpolishing material is calcium carbonate, from 0.1 to 5% by weight of asurface active material including sodium lauryl sulphate having a broaddistributin of alkyl groups, the C₁₀ content being about 1 to 8% byweight, the C₁₂ content being about 40 to 70% by weight, the C₁₄ contentbeing about 13 to 30% by weight, the C₁₆ content being about 5 to 16% byweight and the C₁₈ content being about 0 to 23% by weight, and from 0.2to 1% by weight of an additive of an anionic phosphate ester comprisinga mixture of mono-ester of the formula ##STR3## di-ester of the formula##STR4## wherein M' is hydrogen, alkali metal or ammonium, R is an alkylgroup of 10-20 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 1 to
 60. 2. Thedental cream claims in claim 1 wherein said polishing agent is presentin amount of about 40-55% by weight.
 3. The dental cream claims in claim2 wherein said calcium carbonate is the only polishing agent present. 4.The dental cream claims in claim 1 wherein said sodium lauryl sulphatecontains about 3% C₁₀ ; 56% C₁₂ ; 21% C₁₄ ; 9% C₁₆ ; and 11% C₁₈ alkylgroups.
 5. The dental cream claims in claim 1 wherein said additive ispresent in amount of about 0.2-0.5% by weight.
 6. The dental creamclaims in claim 1 wherein said anionic phosphate ester mixture containsalkyl groups of 16 to 18 carbon atoms and the weight ratio of mono-esterto di-ester is from about 1:10 to about 10:1.